Former India spinner R Ashwin has ignited a firestorm by backing Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, whose bowling action—marked by pauses and elbow bend—has critics up in arms. Ashwin calls out hypocrisy in cricket’s governance.
Srivatsa Goswami kicked off the uproar on X, invoking football’s penalty reforms: ‘No run-up stops allowed there. Action passes, but halting before bowling? Must end now.’
Ashwin hit back forcefully: ‘Football aside, batters rampantly reverse-sweep sans alerts. Bowlers denied arm changes—address that imbalance.’ Online trolls ensued, but Ashwin clarified comprehensively.
‘Only ICC’s tech center rules on actions. Umpires can’t gauge 15-degree elbow bends without machines. Crease halts are his legit style—grey zones don’t apply,’ he explained.
Tariq’s three-wicket blitz against the USA revived action queries, with his pronounced flex and odd run-up raising flags for T20 and international clearance. Ashwin’s advocacy pushes for reform, arguing bowlers deserve the same leeway as batters in a sport increasingly favoring aggression. Will authorities heed this call amid rising scrutiny?